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You don't have to brave Rockefeller Center to witness a fabulous Christmas tree lighting. We've rounded up tree lightings (and menorah and snowflake illuminations) that are much less crowded, way cooler and feel like community celebrations, not events for tourists. Plus, most of these festive events are FREE and you don't have to stand on top of a car to see all of the great things going on.

Read on for a host of awesome holiday illuminations in New York City. You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide.

Click through to our listings for all the details, including address, time and recommended ages.

UNICEF Snowflake – Midtown East
This enormous, 3,000-pound crystal snowflake is already lit for the season and shines on through early January.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche – Upper East Side
On view through Tuesday, January 6, 2014.
Free with suggested admission: $25 for adults, free for children under age 12
The Met's Christmas tree is a magical, only-in-New-York display. It stands 20-feet high and is placed in front of the 18th-century choir screen from the Spanish Cathedral of Valladolid in the Medieval Sculpture Hall. The arbor is adorned with 18th-century Neapolitan cherubs and angels, and at its base is an exquisite nativity scene. There are spectacular tree lighting ceremonies daily.

American Museum of Natural History Origami Holiday Tree – Upper West Side
On view through Sunday, January 11, 2015
Free with suggested admission: $22 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 2-12
There aren't any actual lights involved, but I love this tree located in the Grand Gallery on the first floor. It stands 13-feet tall and has 500 or so origami creations dangling from its limbs. This year’s theme is Origami Night at the Museum inspired by the blockbuster Night at the Museum movies, so expect paper renderings of Teddy Roosevelt and dinosaurs. Throughout the holiday season, volunteers from OrigamiUSA (who began crafting the decorations in July!), will be on hand to teach the art of folding paper to visitors. If you just must have lights, the museum has an illuminated pair of 19-foot tall holiday barosauruses (barosauri?) on its front steps.

Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID – Park Slope
Saturday, November 29
FREE
Celebrate Small Business Saturday by watching the tree light up at local cafe S'Nice. Families can also hang with Santa and Frosty, enjoy Christmas caroling and a puppet show, and chow down on treats.

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square – Upper West Side
Monday, December 1
FREE
The tree lighting at Dante Park kicks off this huge neighborhood holiday celebration. From Columbus Circle to 68th Street, enjoy tons of free entertainment and reasonably priced ($1-$4) food tastings from the area's many restaurants. This year, kid-centric attractions include live songs by the Suzi Shelton Band, a performance by the cast of Broadway's Cinderella, Chinese Lion Dancers, crafts, and character appearances by Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby, Sid the Science Kid and Curious George. Okamoto Studio will be on hand with ice-carving demos, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center hosts multiple screenings of the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. While most activities are FREE, attendees are encouraged to drop off new or gently-used coats for New York Cares Coat Drive. Visit the website for a list of drop-off locations and a complete schedule of events.

Winter Village at Bryant Park Tree Lighting– Midtown West
Tuesday, December 2
FREE
NYC's only free ice-skating rink celebrates the 10th anniversary of its annual tree lighting. Watch as the 50-foot Norway Spruce is illuminated with more than 30,000 LED lights, and enjoy live musical performances by Ingrid Michaelson, Catey Shaw and the Cecilia Chorus of New York; pro skating demos; Christmas song sing-alongs and an appearance by Santa.

Staten Island Borough Hall– St. George
Tuesday, December 2
FREE
Sing Christmas carols and meet Santa as he hands out books and hot cocoa to kids at this annual holiday fete hosted by Staten Island Borough President James Oddo.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree – Midtown East
Wednesday, December 3
FREE
We are not recommending that you go, especially with kids (we went once; never again! We thought we were going to be crushed by the crowds). Your best bet is to watch the spectacle on TV—you'll certainly have a much better and more comfortable view of the performances. If you must see the famous Norway spruce illuminated with 30,000 LED lights and topped with a massive Swarovski crystal star in person, then arrive early (like 4pm). If you still can't find a good spot, check out other fun things to do near Rock Center. The tree stays on view through Wednesday, January 7, 2015.

Charles A. Dana Discovery Center Lighting – Harlem
Thursday, December 4
FREE
The Central Park Conservancy kicks off the holidays by decorating this Victorian-style center with thousands of LED lights and putting a flotilla of illuminated trees on the adjacent Harlem Meer. Old Saint Nick will drop by to say hello to little ones (it's usually a little nutty to make for a good photo op). Expect ice sculpture demonstrations, caroling, and complimentary cookies and hot cocoa.

Holiday Lights – Battery Park City
Thursday, December 4
FREE
Santa always makes an appearance at this annual illumination in South Cove, while a cappella group The Accidentals leads the crowd in caroling. Though the event is free, new unwrapped gifts are collected on behalf of Stockings with Care.

Lady Moody Triangle – Brooklyn
Thursday, December 4
FREE
St. Nick and Senator Golden are at it again, this time lighting the tree in the Lady Moody Triangle.

Atlantic Avenue – Boerum Hill
Friday, December 5
FREE
Watch the Christmas tree at the Belarusian Church light up, and enjoy complimentary treats and performances by kid rockers Rolie Polie Guacamole and local public school students. Santa will be on hand to hear kids' wishlists, and revelers are encouraged to donate new unwrapped toys and books to the annual drive.

Carroll Park– Carroll Gardens
Friday, December 5
FREE
Local community organizations Court Street Merchants Association and Friends of Carroll Park host this annual illumination. Santa helps flip the switch, and there will be food and fun in the adjacent Robert Acito Parkhouse. Canned goods and nonperishables will be collected to donate to City Harvest. Rain date: Friday, December 12.

Jefferson Market Park Tree Lighting – West Village
Saturday, December 6
FREE
Jefferson Market Park kicks off the holiday season with a performance by the Show Stoppers and an annual tree lighting. Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Little Italy– Little Italy
Saturday, December 6
FREE
Local performers like Jenna Esposito, WFAN's Al Dukes and 2015 Miss Italia New York entertain gatherers before the annual illumination of a 40-foot tree on the patio of Most Precious Blood Church.

Christmas in Richmond Town & Traditional Tree Lighting – Staten Island
Sunday, December 7
FREE for tree lighting; festival is $2, free for children under age 7 with additional fees for activities
Enjoy an old-fashioned holiday in Staten Island's historic village. Listen to Christmas carols and stories, snap photos with Santa, browse the holiday market, and go on a horse and carriage ride. The no-cost tree lighting caps off the day of fun.

Winter Solstice Celebration & Tree Lighting – Flushing
Sunday, December 7
FREE admission but there are fees for crafts
Head to the Queens Botanical Garden for nature tours, botanical crafts, live music performances, a holiday marketplace, photo ops with Kris Kringle and a tree illumination at 4:45pm.

The Lighting of the Park Avenue Christmas Trees – Upper East Side
Sunday, December 7
FREE
Why watch just one tree light up when you can see a row of fir trees come alive with white lights? These arbors were first illuminated in 1945 to commemorate those lost in World War II. Today, this tradition continues in honor of the brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The lighting is preceded by a brief ceremony outside the Brick Presbyterian Church.

St. Nicholas Day Celebration and Tree Lighting – Ridgewood
Sunday, December 7
$3 for adults, free for children
Journey to the historic Vander Ende-Onderdonk House to meet St. Nick and hear his origin story while enjoying cider, hot chocolate, traditional treats and a tree lighting.

Shore Road Park Christmas Tree Lighting – Bay Ridge
Monday, December 8
FREE
Last year's event included entertainment by local high school choirs and photo ops with Santa before the tree under the gazebo was lit. Rain date: December 9.

Madison Square Park – Flatiron District
Tuesday, December 9
FREE
The green space hosted America's first community holiday tree more than a century ago. That tradition continues in 2014 with a 5pm lighting of its 35-foot-tall Balsam fir, preceded by crafts, complimentary treats from neighborhood hot spots, and live music by the cast of Cinderella and kindie rocker AudraRox.

Holiday on the Hudson– Harlem
Saturday, December 13
FREE
Head to West Harlem Piers Park for its annual tree lighting featuring live music, and arts and crafts.

Holiday Lights – Battery Park City
Tuesday, December 16
FREE
While the big tree lighting at South Cove occurs earlier in the month, the menorah takes center stage at sundown tonight as it is lit for the first time.

World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah Lighting – Upper East Side
Tuesday, December 16-Tuesday, December 23
FREE
Christmas trees don't get to have all the fun. This massive 32-foot tall, two-ton menorah will be lit every night of the holiday.

Grand Army Plaza Menorah Lighting – Park Slope
Tuesday, December 16-Tuesday, December 23
FREE
Each night of the holiday, the menorah will be lit and revelers can enjoy hot latkes, gifts for the children and live music.

Unconfirmed Celebrations

The following annual tree lightings are not yet confirmed for 2014. We'll update this post as soon as we have the details.